Balance attachment for bicycle-pedals



(No Model.)

J. R. BLIVEN. BALANCE ATTACHMENT ECR BICYCLE EEDALS.

No. 543,844. Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

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JOHN R. BLIVEN, OF DAYTONA, FLORIDA.

BALANCE ATTACHMENT FOR BICYCLE-PEDALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,844, dated August 6, 1895.

Application filed November 1.9, 1894. Serial No. 529,256. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom,- z't may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN R. BLIVEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Daytona, Volusia county, State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Balance Attachments for Bicycle-Pedals, which improvements are fully set forth and described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide a device which, when properly secured to the pedals of a bicycle, will cause said pedals to always maintain a horizontal position, and thus be at all times in readiness for use. Such a device is especially desirable when mounting a machine, for when provided therewith the pedals are in position to receive the feet of the rider immediately upon his taking his position in the saddle.

To assist in explaining my invention I have provided in connection with this specification the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates my device as secured to a bicycle-pedal and shows particularly the manner in which it acts to hold said pedal horizontally regardless of the position of its supporting crank-arm. Fig. 2. shows on a somewhat larger scale the manner in which my device is secured to the bicycle-pedal. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of my device, and Fig. 4 is an end view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, the letter a denotes an ordinary crank-arm of a bicycle mounted upon the driving-shaft b and supporting axially at the freeend thereof in the usual manner a pedal c.

Referringnow particularly to the construction of my attachment, the letter d denotes a short piece of (preferably round) rod, which forms an essential feature thereof, two of which pieces are necessary in its construction. Each rod is formed at one end as one sectionor jaw of a clamp and the opposite end of said rod is screw-threaded. Rods d are supported and held in alignment with each other by means of a nut e, preferably of considerable length and weight, into which the threaded ends of the rods enter, the nut e being provided with rightand left hand threads for the reception thereof.

With the above-described construction it will be readily understood that when rods d are in position within the nut any rotation of the latter on said rods will cause the rods to travel toward or from each other in accordance with the direction of such rotation.

The letters f indicate jaw`s forming companions to the jaws cl', said jaws f being secured to the rods d by means of screws g passing through suitable openingsin each of said jaws f and having their ends seated in tapped holes in rods d. It will now be readily understood that each pair of jaws d and f forms a clamp and by means of these clamps my complete device is secured to a bicyclepedal.

As ordinarily constructed the side plates of a bicycle-pedal are formed with lips c extending radially from its axial support and substantially at right angles to the pedal proper. My device is secured in operative position by clamping such lips (at opposite sides of the pedal) between each pair of jaws, and by means of screws g the jaws of either clamp may be adj usted to accommodate lips c of varying thicknesses. My device is also adjustable for use with pedals of different widths,

such adjustment being accomplished by properly rotating nut c to cause the rods d and their respective clamps to advance toward or recede from each other, as may be desired.

My device is preferably secured as near as may be directly under the axial support of the pedal, and when thus secured its weight will always tend to hold said pedal in a horizontal position and will serve to quickly return it to such position if the pedal is rocked on its axis.

If desired nut e may be made of considerable size and weight, it being apparent that the greater the weight of said nut the more perfectly will it perform its function.

By particular reference to Fig. l it will be seen that when attached to the pedals of a bicycle, as described, regardless of the radial position of the crank-arms of such pedals, the latter will always be held by my device in a horizontal positimandethus be ever ready for use.

My device as a whole is very simple in its construction, may be cheaply produced, is neatin its appearance, and may be readily IOO IGA'

attached to ordinary bicycle-pedals of the anda threaded weight, adjustably mounted class commonly used. upon said threaded rods, all substantially as Io Having.)r thus described my invention, I and for the purpose specified. elaim- In combination with an axially supported l JOHN R. BLIVEN. pedal, having radial lips c as set forth, right Witnesses: and left hand threaded rods Whose outer ends ROBT. B. WOLSELEY, are formed as clamps to engage said lips, J. W. WILKINSON. 

